Part of the joy of pets is the fact that they play. In fact cats and dogs play but I don’t think hamsters do, unless you count their treadmill. I’ve never seen a rabbit do much more than munch or sleep but to be fair I have never kept one. As for fish, maybe they play chase.

I had a friend that kept white rats. Apparently they do play but the thought of being close enough to find out gives me the willies. Ferrets also play apparently as well as running up trouser legs.

There are some free range pigs not far from here and while the adults sleep the piglets roll around and chase each other through the mud as well as fighting over food.

I’m not keen on caged birds but was left two elderly budgies when their owner died. I tried to give them some freedom by letting them out of the cage for a fly around (indoors) but they were agoraphobic. Budgies do play though. They like bells, mirrors, ladders and swings and will wind each other up like children.

Wild animals romp around and play and it’s not just confined to the young. Most adult animals continue to play, but some humans find it harder. I’m not quite sure where I’m going with this but maybe it doesn’t need a resolution anymore than play does.